Through a five-hour ritual, a necromancer may reanimate a corpse to act as an Undead servitor. The creation of zombie servitors is one of the most versatile tools in a necromancer's arsenal. This ritual is subsequently one of the most commonly utilized—Necromancy of Intelligence being perhaps the only one used more often. The zombie will follow all of its master's instructions to the best of its limited intellectual ability. A zombie may also be given a set of instructions and conditions to follow when it is animated, and thus may be given a limited measure of autonomy. Zombies are notoriously stupid, but will do as instructed, or at least they will attempt to do so. The corpse to be reanimated must be reasonably intact—poison victims are the best, certain diseases are second—and must have died no less than approximately three days (72 hours). To reanimate the corpse, a protection circle must first be drawn around the body to prevent opportunistic inhabitation. Secondly white candles must be lit and placed on the forehead, mouth, throat, chest, and belly, with other candles placed one above each shoulder and one between the knees of the corpse. Finally the zombie is anointed with a white powder similar to that required for the Hands of Death spell, in that deadly animals and grave dirt are used. Remember that zombies are rather dim, and could easily become confused and overwhelmed by complex or conflicting instructions.
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